The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau - Episode 54 - 10/6/2024

The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all of the Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. As a result of the widespread devastation affecting a 500 mile swath through ten southern states, the American Red Cross has mobilized a massive response to Hurricane Helene.  There are currently well over 100 emergency shelters open, offering refuge and respite to families and individuals devastated by the disaster left in the storm's wake.  But without reinforcements, the Red Cross volunteer ranks will be depleted long before the disaster recovery is complete.  So the call is going out for interested volunteers who are willing to be trained and travel this fall to help out.  Laura Burke of The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania gives details on what it takes to possibly become a volunteer.  Then, we turn the focus to Pharmacy Benefit Managers, known as PBM's.  Most people have never of them, and for years Congress has let these powerful conglomerates control whether or not your PA health insurance carrier will cover the medications you may need.  Antonio Ciaccia, a leading health policy expert, discusses PBM's and whether they're doing any good in helping manage drug costs.